NASCAR's "silly season" is heating up, and while Michael McDowell might not be the biggest name on the rumor mill, he's already got his eye on the future. Speaking with reporters at Watkins Glen, the veteran driver didn't mince words when asked who could take over the No. 71 car for Spire Motorsports when he finally hangs up his helmet. His answer? Tristan McKee, whom McDowell called "the real deal."

McKee is generating serious buzz in the NASCAR pipeline. Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass ranked him 14th among the top prospects for 2025, and for good reason. At just 15 years old, McKee became the second-youngest winner in ARCA history at Watkins Glen this year—a track that clearly suits him. That victory came just two years after he made history as the youngest driver ever to win in the CARS Tour Pro Late Model division. Not bad for a kid who won't turn 16 until August.

But let's pump the brakes a bit. McKee has already raced in the ARCA Menards Series and its East division, but he still needs to prove himself at the Truck Series and O'Reilly Auto Parts Series levels before he can even think about a Cup Series ride. Realistically, he's at least three years away from a full-time Cup seat—and even that timeline might be optimistic.

Meanwhile, McDowell, who turns 42 in December, isn't planning to step away anytime soon. He's made it clear he wants to keep racing the No. 71 for several more seasons. But here's the thing: results matter, and McDowell's numbers have been trending in the wrong direction. His last win came at the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard back in 2023, and since then, it's been a slow slide.

In 2024, McDowell managed seven top-10 finishes, six poles, and 256 laps led, with an average starting position of 14.58 and a finishing average of 21.31. By 2025, those numbers dipped: just 96 laps led, six top-10s, two poles, and a starting average of 15.69. Now in 2026, through 11 races, he sits 23rd in points (189), with an average start of 19.0 and a finish of 21.5. That's not the kind of momentum Spire Motorsports wants to see.

Spire has made it clear in recent years that they're aiming higher. If McDowell can't turn things around, the clock might start ticking faster than anyone expected—and Tristan McKee could be waiting in the wings sooner than later.